The Dart

Unforeseen and unknown*A nimitta is a sign or portent, and is commonly used in the context of omens, prophecy, or fortune-telling. Here it means that there is no portent or omen by which one can predict the extent of life.is the extent of this mortal life—hard and shortand bound to pain.

Animittamanaññātaṁ, maccānaṁ idha jīvitaṁ; Kasirañca parittañca, tañca dukkhena saṁyutaṁ.

Unforeseen and unknown*A nimitta is a sign or portent, and is commonly used in the context of omens, prophecy, or fortune-telling. Here it means that there is no portent or omen by which one can predict the extent of life.Animittamanaññātaṁ, is the extent of this mortal life—maccānaṁ idha jīvitaṁ; hard and shortKasirañca parittañca, and bound to pain.tañca dukkhena saṁyutaṁ.

There is no way thatthose born will not die.On reaching old age death follows:such is the nature of living creatures.

Na hi so upakkamo atthi, yena jātā na miyyare; Jarampi patvā maraṇaṁ, evaṁdhammā hi pāṇino.

There is no way thatNa hi so upakkamo atthi, those born will not die.yena jātā na miyyare; On reaching old age death follows:Jarampi patvā maraṇaṁ, such is the nature of living creatures.evaṁdhammā hi pāṇino.

As ripe fruitare always in danger of falling,*Accepting niccaṁ per Norman and Bodhi.so mortals once bornare always in danger of death.

Phalānamiva pakkānaṁ, pāto patanato bhayaṁ; *pāto patanato → papatanā (bj, pts-vp-pli1)Evaṁ jātāna maccānaṁ, niccaṁ maraṇato bhayaṁ.

As ripe fruitPhalānamiva pakkānaṁ, are always in danger of falling,*Accepting niccaṁ per Norman and Bodhi.pāto patanato bhayaṁ; *pāto patanato → papatanā (bj, pts-vp-pli1)so mortals once bornEvaṁ jātāna maccānaṁ, are always in danger of death.niccaṁ maraṇato bhayaṁ.

As clay potsmade by a potterall end up being broken,so is the life of mortals.

Yathāpi kumbhakārassa, katā mattikabhājanā; Sabbe bhedanapariyantā, *bhedanapariyantā → bhedapariyantā (sya-all)evaṁ maccāna jīvitaṁ.

As clay potsYathāpi kumbhakārassa, made by a potterkatā mattikabhājanā; all end up being broken,Sabbe bhedanapariyantā, *bhedanapariyantā → bhedapariyantā (sya-all)so is the life of mortals.evaṁ maccāna jīvitaṁ.

Young and old,foolish and wise—all go under the sway of death;all are destined to die.

Daharā ca mahantā ca, ye bālā ye ca paṇḍitā; Sabbe maccuvasaṁ yanti, sabbe maccuparāyaṇā.

Young and old,Daharā ca mahantā ca, foolish and wise—ye bālā ye ca paṇḍitā; all go under the sway of death;Sabbe maccuvasaṁ yanti, all are destined to die.sabbe maccuparāyaṇā.

When those overcome by deathleave this world for the next,a father cannot protect his son,nor relatives their kin.

Tesaṁ maccuparetānaṁ, gacchataṁ paralokato; Na pitā tāyate puttaṁ, ñātī vā pana ñātake.

When those overcome by deathTesaṁ maccuparetānaṁ, leave this world for the next,gacchataṁ paralokato; a father cannot protect his son,Na pitā tāyate puttaṁ, nor relatives their kin.ñātī vā pana ñātake.

See how, while relatives look on,wailing profusely,mortals are led away one by one,like a cow to the slaughter.

Pekkhataṁyeva ñātīnaṁ, passa lālapataṁ puthu; Ekamekova maccānaṁ, govajjho viya nīyati. *nīyati → niyyati (sya-all, pts-vp-pli1)

See how, while relatives look on,Pekkhataṁyeva ñātīnaṁ, wailing profusely,passa lālapataṁ puthu; mortals are led away one by one,Ekamekova maccānaṁ, like a cow to the slaughter.govajjho viya nīyati. *nīyati → niyyati (sya-all, pts-vp-pli1)

And so the world is strickenby old age and by death.That is why the attentive do not grieve,for they understand the way of the world.

Evamabbhāhato loko, Maccunā ca jarāya ca; Tasmā dhīrā na socanti, Viditvā lokapariyāyaṁ.

And so the world is strickenEvamabbhāhato loko, by old age and by death.Maccunā ca jarāya ca; That is why the attentive do not grieve,Tasmā dhīrā na socanti, for they understand the way of the world.Viditvā lokapariyāyaṁ.

For one whose path you do not know—not whence they came nor where they went—you lament in vain,seeing neither end.

Yassa maggaṁ na jānāsi, āgatassa gatassa vā; Ubho ante asampassaṁ, niratthaṁ paridevasi.

For one whose path you do not know—Yassa maggaṁ na jānāsi, not whence they came nor where they went—āgatassa gatassa vā; you lament in vain,Ubho ante asampassaṁ, seeing neither end.niratthaṁ paridevasi.

If a bewildered person,lamenting and self-harming,could extract any good from that,then those who see clearly would do the same.

Paridevayamāno ce, Kiñcidatthaṁ udabbahe; Sammūḷho hiṁsamattānaṁ, Kayirā ce naṁ vicakkhaṇo.

If a bewildered person,Paridevayamāno ce, lamenting and self-harming,Kiñcidatthaṁ udabbahe; could extract any good from that,Sammūḷho hiṁsamattānaṁ, then those who see clearly would do the same.Kayirā ce naṁ vicakkhaṇo.

For not by weeping and wailingwill you find peace of heart.It just gives rise to more suffering,and distresses your body.

Na hi ruṇṇena sokena, Santiṁ pappoti cetaso; Bhiyyassuppajjate dukkhaṁ, Sarīraṁ cupahaññati.

For not by weeping and wailingNa hi ruṇṇena sokena, will you find peace of heart.Santiṁ pappoti cetaso; It just gives rise to more suffering,Bhiyyassuppajjate dukkhaṁ, and distresses your body.Sarīraṁ cupahaññati.

Growing thin and pale,you hurt yourself.It does nothing to help the dead:your lamentation is in vain.

Kiso vivaṇṇo bhavati, Hiṁsamattānamattanā; Na tena petā pālenti, Niratthā paridevanā.

Growing thin and pale,Kiso vivaṇṇo bhavati, you hurt yourself.Hiṁsamattānamattanā; It does nothing to help the dead:Na tena petā pālenti, your lamentation is in vain.Niratthā paridevanā.

Unless a personage gives up grief,they fall into suffering all the more.Bewailing those whose time has come,you fall under the sway of grief.

Sokamappajahaṁ jantu, Bhiyyo dukkhaṁ nigacchati; Anutthunanto kālaṅkataṁ, *kālaṅkataṁ → kālakataṁ (bj, sya-all, pts-vp-pli1)Sokassa vasamanvagū.

Unless a personage gives up grief,Sokamappajahaṁ jantu, they fall into suffering all the more.Bhiyyo dukkhaṁ nigacchati; Bewailing those whose time has come,Anutthunanto kālaṅkataṁ, *kālaṅkataṁ → kālakataṁ (bj, sya-all, pts-vp-pli1)you fall under the sway of grief.Sokassa vasamanvagū.

See, too, other folk departing,passing on according to their deeds;fallen under the sway of death,beings flounder while still here.

Aññepi passa gamine, Yathākammupage nare; Maccuno vasamāgamma, Phandantevidha pāṇino.

See, too, other folk departing,Aññepi passa gamine, passing on according to their deeds;Yathākammupage nare; fallen under the sway of death,Maccuno vasamāgamma, beings flounder while still here.Phandantevidha pāṇino.

For whatever you imagine it is,it turns out to be something else.Such is separation:see the way of the world!

Yena yena hi maññanti, Tato taṁ hoti aññathā; Etādiso vinābhāvo, Passa lokassa pariyāyaṁ.

For whatever you imagine it is,Yena yena hi maññanti, it turns out to be something else.Tato taṁ hoti aññathā; Such is separation:Etādiso vinābhāvo, see the way of the world!Passa lokassa pariyāyaṁ.

Even if a human livesa hundred years or more,they are parted from their family circle,they leave this life behind.

Api vassasataṁ jīve, Bhiyyo vā pana māṇavo; Ñātisaṅghā vinā hoti, Jahāti idha jīvitaṁ.

Even if a human livesApi vassasataṁ jīve, a hundred years or more,Bhiyyo vā pana māṇavo; they are parted from their family circle,Ñātisaṅghā vinā hoti, they leave this life behind.Jahāti idha jīvitaṁ.

Therefore, having learned from the Perfected One,dispel lamentation.Seeing the dead and departed, think:“I cannot escape this.”*The commentary says this means, “I cannot bring back the dead”, which is followed by Norman and Bodhi. But I think the text elides a second negative and should read: na eso alabbhā, literally “This is not not-to-be-gotten by me”, i.e. “I cannot escape this”.

Tasmā arahato sutvā, Vineyya paridevitaṁ; Petaṁ kālaṅkataṁ disvā, Neso labbhā mayā iti.

Therefore, having learned from the Perfected One,Tasmā arahato sutvā, dispel lamentation.Vineyya paridevitaṁ; Seeing the dead and departed, think:Petaṁ kālaṅkataṁ disvā, “I cannot escape this.”*The commentary says this means, “I cannot bring back the dead”, which is followed by Norman and Bodhi. But I think the text elides a second negative and should read: na eso alabbhā, literally “This is not not-to-be-gotten by me”, i.e. “I cannot escape this”.Neso labbhā mayā iti.

As one would extinguisha blazing refuge with water,so too an attentive one—a wise,astute, and skilled person—would swiftly blow away grief that comes up,like the wind a tuft of cotton.

Yathā saraṇamādittaṁ, Vārinā parinibbaye; *parinibbaye → parinibbuto (bj, mr)Evampi dhīro sapañño, Paṇḍito kusalo naro; Khippamuppatitaṁ sokaṁ, Vāto tūlaṁva dhaṁsaye.

As one would extinguishYathā saraṇamādittaṁ, a blazing refuge with water,Vārinā parinibbaye; *parinibbaye → parinibbuto (bj, mr)so too an attentive one—a wise,Evampi dhīro sapañño, astute, and skilled person—Paṇḍito kusalo naro; would swiftly blow away grief that comes up,Khippamuppatitaṁ sokaṁ, like the wind a tuft of cotton.Vāto tūlaṁva dhaṁsaye.

One who seeks their own happinesswould pluck out the dart from themselves—the wailing and moaning,and sadness inside.

Paridevaṁ pajappañca, Domanassañca attano; Attano sukhamesāno, Abbahe sallamattano.

One who seeks their own happinessParidevaṁ pajappañca, would pluck out the dart from themselves—Domanassañca attano; the wailing and moaning,Attano sukhamesāno, and sadness inside.Abbahe sallamattano.

With dart plucked out, unattached,having found peace of mind,overcoming all sorrow,one is sorrowless and quenched.

Abbūḷhasallo asito, santiṁ pappuyya cetaso; Sabbasokaṁ atikkanto, asoko hoti nibbutoti.

With dart plucked out, unattached,Abbūḷhasallo asito, having found peace of mind,santiṁ pappuyya cetaso; overcoming all sorrow,Sabbasokaṁ atikkanto, one is sorrowless and quenched.asoko hoti nibbutoti.